Three vying for House District 51 in Loveland

Oct. 5, 2012

Written by

Brian DelGrosso

Brian DelGrosso

Age: 40 Hometown: Loveland Political affiliation: Republican Occupation: Small business owner Previous government experience: Colorado House of Representatives since 2010 Website:www.briandelgrosso.comAge: 62 Hometown: Loveland Political affiliation: Democrat Occupation: Lawyer Previous government experience: Never held elected office before Website:www.markshafferforhd51.comAge: 41 Hometown: Loveland Political affiliation: Libertarian Occupation: Manufacturing/currently stay-at-home father Previous government experience: Never held elected office before Website: None

State House District 51 voter registration as of Monday

Mark Shaffer

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Colorado House District 51 in Loveland was home to two Republican incumbents when the dust settled on legislative reapportionment last year.

Rep. B.J. Nikkel, who formerly represented House District 49, was roped into House District 51 by the plan pitched by Democrats that gained the Colorado Supreme Court’s approval. Nikkel could see the end of her new district from the back porch of her home near Carter Lake.

She stepped aside to allow Rep. Brian DelGrosso, the Republican incumbent representing House District 51, to be the GOP’s sole candidate in the race.

DelGrosso brings the perspective of a self-made businessman to the race. He started as a delivery driver and now owns two Domino’s Pizza locations in Loveland and one in Windsor.

“When we talk about people living the American dream, I’m a guy that did that,” he said.

DelGrosso was appointed to a vacancy in the Colorado House in 2010, and as chairman of the House Finance Committee championed reducing regulations and taxes on small businesses.

“As a business owner myself, I feel like I know how to run my business better than somebody else does,” he said.

DelGrosso points to legislation he has sponsored and passed that goes beyond the business arena. It includes enabling counties such as Larimer to extend senior property tax work-off programs, extending a child care contribution tax credit, reducing property taxes for Habitat for Humanity and streamlining and reducing costs of background checks for nonprofit volunteers.

DelGrosso recently was appointed to fill a House Republican vacancy on the powerful Joint Budget Committee that crafts the state’s budget. If Republicans hold control of the House he is certain to have the seat. One of the two Republicans on the committee would be removed if they lose the majority to the Democrats.

Representation on the JBC would give Northern Colorado a voice in how the state prioritizes spending — and saving, DelGrosso said.

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“You look at all the other members on the Joint Budget Committee, they’re all from Denver and Colorado Springs,” he said.

DelGrosso believes the federal government needs to intervene and address immigration enforcement. He opposes providing discount tuition to illegal immigrants brought to the state as children without providing the same advantage to all college students. And he favors reconciling legal protections for gay couples proposed in this year’s civil unions bill by modifying the state’s existing domestic beneficiary law.

DelGrosso sees oversight of oil and gas development as a statewide issue, not one for local governments to decide. He says an improved business climate and economy as the only way to better fund education.

Certainty regarding taxes and regulation are key to an economic turnaround, according to DelGrosso.

Shaffer sees improved educational opportunities as a cure for much of what ails the state’s economy. He points to his own public education and affordable tuition in the state of Louisiana as the footing that lifted him to become a lawyer.

And to remedy the state of education funding, he would press the nuclear option in the Legislature: calling for a constitutional convention. It is a long shot that would require overwhelming support from lawmakers, and citizen agreement to craft a new set of rules.

“There’s always a risk,” Shaffer said. “I have faith in the wisdom of the people. That’s the ultimate backstop.”

Shaffer said he would confine the scope to fiscal issues, such as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (limiting spending, revenue collection and government borrowing), the Gallagher Amendment establishing property tax rates and Amendment 23 that sets the minimum funding amount for public education.

“The state’s got one foot on the brake and one foot on the gas,” he said.

Shaffer also favors stricter standards for citizen-initiated changes to the Colorado Constitution. He said he would be an independent voice within the Democratic Party, and accused DelGrosso of following whatever trail is blazed for him by Republican leaders.

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“My opponent has pretty much voted straight down the line what his party has told him to do,” he said.

Shaffer disagrees with DelGrosso’s assertion that over-regulation is strangling business.

“That’s a myth,” he said, acknowledging that bureaucracy should be streamlined, but not at the expense of safeguards that protect society from dangerous or unhealthy business practices.

Shaffer said local government deserves a seat at the table with respect to zoning and setbacks in oil and gas development discussions, but statewide rules should prevail.

Shaffer favors not only civil unions, but legalizing gay marriage. And he would support discount tuition for illegal immigrants brought to Colorado as children.

“I believe government has a role in society, and it can be a positive role,” he said.

Renker was enlisted by the chairman of the state’s Libertarian Party to join the race. Renker has been in that party for 12 years after the first Iraq war.

“Our government’s gone rampant,” he said. “It’s too big. The spending’s out of control. People in office don’t care about the average man that goes to work every day, but obviously like his money.”

He would vote for civil unions, would oppose discount tuition for illegal immigrants, believes oil and gas rules are a statewide concern and favors legalization of marijuana.